Mark answered readers' questions Feb. 13, 2014.

With wins at MSU, OSU and Wisconsin, does anyone else in the nation have that quality of a group of road wins? and will that be taken into consideration when the selection committee for the tournament decides our seeding?

by William Koppelman2/13/2014 3:59:56 PM

Maybe not quite so prolific, but MSU won at Iowa and at Texas, which looks pretty good.. As for the Wolverines, those wins matter, showing they can win anywhere, but probably more as a tiebreaker when comparing teams in the final seed lines. The most important thing is who you beat and with those being Top 20 RPI teams, it's huge.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:02:06 PM

Is DWJ(Walton, jr.) on track to be the Burke of our future?

by virginia2/13/2014 4:02:11 PM

Walton probably won't be the next Burke because he doesn't have the same scorer's mentality. Trey was aggressive, always trying to create, often for himself first then distributing. Walton may be a little more apt to spread the ball around, but has shown he can score as well. He doesn't have the burden Burke had to score either.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:03:38 PM

HOw does impressive road wins like the one against ohio impacting recruiting?

by JackAttack!2/13/2014 4:03:43 PM

Big national TV wins always help recruiting because there's success in a game people are watching. The biggest benefit Tuesday may be the younger players seeing what Walton did and his development, envisioning themselves there.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:04:44 PM

Peppers and Funchess at WR... that seems like the perfect combo!! Do u agree?

by slayerboy2/13/2014 4:04:53 PM

That seems a stretch right now but both could be there, even if not regularly. I would expect Funchess to see more tight end time given Jake Butt's torn ACL and Peppers will have to show he can master defensive back before he's thrown on offense. U-M recruited a ton of receivers in the past three classes. This is their chance to show something.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:06:20 PM

How hyped up and epic will our last game against irish be? CAn it be a game for the ages or a lackluster bust?

by slayerboy2/13/2014 4:06:25 PM

The Michigan-Notre Dame games are often classics because the talent level always seems to be comparable. I would expect nothing less in this year's final game of the series. There's a reason they keep playing it at night.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:07:15 PM

it feels good to rub it in ohios face by beating them there and stauskas blowin a kiss to sparty crowd... i'm lovin it!!! am I wrong feeling this way or may i be jinxing us????

by hangnail2/13/2014 4:07:21 PM

I'm not a big believer in the jinx philosophy. But winning at MSU and OSU is a statement about U-M's ability to withstand a hostile environment and play their game, which bodes well for the postseason.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:08:38 PM

Will Nuss get rid of spread plays for Gardner and move towards a truly pro offense, or keep some spread as Borges did? Gardner needs to be just a thrower and not let him get banged up no more.

by Shavingbeard?2/13/2014 4:08:47 PM

Doug Nussmeier has not gotten specific but he said last week that he will adapt to a player's talents, shown by how he used Jake Locker and Keith Price's athleticism at Washington.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:09:43 PM

Will Funchess now have to be a pure TE, since Butt is out for the year with bad knee?

by Shavingbeard?2/13/2014 4:09:48 PM

I don't know that he'll be a pure tight end, having shown what a mismatch he can be at receiver, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't start the spring at tight end. He has the most experience and, even though his blocking is subpar, he's bound to improve with another offseason of strength.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:11:03 PM

Do you think the loss of tight end Jake Butt will be a bigger blow to Michigan's running or passing attack

by jolly giant2/13/2014 4:11:10 PM

Probably passing because Butt was enough of a threat both ways that the defense didn't know what was coming, shown by the Ohio State game and against Northwestern when he broke free for touchdowns.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:11:55 PM

mark what are the coaches doing to help the o line players, improve. and is coach nuss working with these guys yet.

by david2/13/2014 4:12:03 PM

Until spring practice, they can't work technique with the players but Nussmeier's focus is more about communication than anything else. He feels they need to be able to hold the line for positive plays first, then advance to dominating.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:13:11 PM

Mark, gr3 really has looked terrible lately. He spent a lot of time on the bench at osu. Does um need to be realistic about his actual ability and not his perceived ability, ultimately putting him on the bench more often?

by MUDd2/13/2014 4:13:21 PM

It's more about confidence with him and when he's missing layups and putbacks, his whole game is affected. He has amazing athleticism but without his jump shot falling, he has problems. With Zak Irvin shooting so well, the U-M coaches have an option until Robinson rediscovers his touch.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:14:47 PM

So does UM have the same strength and conditioning staff as the Red Wings? With the Wings it's groins. With UM it's ACLs!!! Jake Butt makes like 6 ACL tears in last year!!! What is going on?!?!?!

by Adam2/13/2014 4:15:15 PM

We've asked Brady Hoke about this a few times and he said it was something they would investigate in the offseason but I don't know enough about what's causing them.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:16:04 PM

Do you think that players like Jabrill Peppers, if they are successful, have a big positive impact on future recruiting?

by jolly giant2/13/2014 4:16:09 PM

Without a doubt. Just as Charles Woodson's national success boosted one of the great U-M recruiting classes in 1998, if Peppers lives up to the enormous hype, he can be a torchbearer for the future.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:16:54 PM

Whos starting first game Gardner or Morris?

by dan2/13/2014 4:17:09 PM

This probably depends quite a bit on Gardner's health. If he spends most of the spring on the field running Nussmeier's offense, it'll be his job to lose. He has shown a good touch on explosive plays and can move the ball downfield. His game experience is something Morris can't replicate. But if Gardner barely practices this spring, it's wide open.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:18:52 PM

Do you think it will be better for Peppers to start as a starting outside corner or a nickel back

by jolly giant2/13/2014 4:19:00 PM

They would probably like him to establish at corner because the responsibilities may be more confined and because Michigan's corners were routinely burned. But at the nickel, he could cover more of the field and blitz easier. It's a nice problem to have.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:20:08 PM

Will Peppers start returning punts and kicks as a freshman?

by jolly giant2/13/2014 4:20:15 PM

I definitely could see him impacting this role. Dennis Norfleet has done well on kickoffs but has yet to break one loose. Until he does, other players will get chances, especially if they can change the game like Peppers with his extraordinary speed.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:21:13 PM

Does Drake Harris play a big role this season?

by nick2/13/2014 4:21:20 PM

Drake Harris is another player that is uncertain. after missing a whole season of football with his hamstring injury, he'll need to prove himself this spring, which is a challenge enough playing against college players, let alone recovering from injury.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:22:26 PM

Does GRIII, Nik, or McGrary leave after this season?

by lockedncupped2/13/2014 4:22:34 PM

All are possible. If Stauskas is projected in the Top 15 as some mocks have had him, I'd be surprised if he came back. Not only is he a huge NBA fan and ultra-confident, but Stauskas saw what McGary and Robinson lost by returning. As for Robinson, it may be tough for him to leave if he doesn't start showing more consistency, but players leave if they want to, not if they should. MCGary is a total wild card, given we have no idea what his health status is.

Mark, No 1000 yard rusher, no 9 or 10 win season for U of M. next season. Could we have one??

by Normy2/13/2014 4:28:30 PM

there are a lot of question marks to get there. The offensive line will have to be more consistent, fewer rushing yards will come from the quarterback, there will need to be a featured back, not Smith and Green sharing carries. The backfield as a whole is a bigger concern, not an individual.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:30:10 PM

Which game do they have a better chance of winning next year, @MSU or @OSU?

by Andy V2/13/2014 4:30:40 PM

Interesting question. Depends what you tell me about their defenses. If their defenses are the same as this year, OSU.

by Mark Snyder2/13/2014 4:31:17 PM

Was any player from lasts years team with a NFL team at years end?

by rufus2/13/2014 4:31:44 PM

Yeah, Denard Robinson and Will Campbell were both on rosters, I'm pretty sure.